Gasnier, F.

Guillaud, J.

Nardon, P.

Total, proteinic, free and peptide-bound amino acids were determined in symbiotic and aposymbiotic last-instar larvae of S. oryzae and in the hybrid larvae issued from the reciprocal crosses of these two strains. Very few significant differences were found when comparing the two symbiotic populations or the two aposymbiotic ones. But significant differences were noticed between symbiotic and aposymbiotic larvae for some amino acids and particularly peptidic and free methionine and free sarcosine, the latter being at a high level only in the absence of symbiotes. It is suggested that intracellular bacteria may contribute to transmethylations and to the choline metabolism of their host.

069-079